On Wednesday, September 2, the Estonian parliament elected the Chancellor of Justice Ylle Madise as the new president of the country. 71 deputies voted for the sole candidate — this was enough for the election of the head of state. In October, Madise will succeed Alar Karis in the presidential office.
To be elected president, a candidate must receive the support of at least two-thirds of the members of parliament — a minimum of 68 votes. There are a total of 101 members in the Estonian parliament.
Ylle Madise was voted for by 71 parliamentarians.
The current president of Estonia, Alar Karis, has decided not to run for a second five-year term. In October, Madise will succeed him as head of state.
Who is Ylle Madise
51-year-old Ylle Madise is a lawyer who has held the position of Chancellor of Justice of Estonia since 2015.
The Chancellor of Justice ensures that legislative acts at all levels comply with the Constitution and also performs the functions of an ombudsman.
From 1998 to 2002, Madise headed the Public Law Department of the Ministry of Justice of Estonia.
From 2009 to 2015, she served as legal advisor to the President of Estonia.
Ylle Madise obtained her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in law from the University of Tartu, and her doctoral degree in public administration from Tallinn University of Technology. She has also been a professor at both universities.
She Will Take Office in October
In Estonia, the president primarily performs representative functions. One person cannot hold the position of head of state for more than two consecutive terms.
Thus, in October, Ylle Madise will replace Alar Karis and become the President of Estonia for the next five years. For the 51-year-old lawyer, who has served as Chancellor of Justice for over ten years and previously worked as a presidential advisor, being elected head of state will mark a new stage in her long career in public service.
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